people who LOST weight eating MORE

melsinct

7 times your weight is a TERRIBLE metric if you aren't obese. And its even more terrible if you have a lot of muscle or something. I would only get to eat 1150 calories doing that - I need at least 1500 just to FUNCTION as a body with blood and organs.

I agree. That would only give me 1,050 calories/day! I would starve to death considering I need 1400+ calories just to keep my body alive and functioning (my BMR). I think that metric must be for very obese people.

Alexagetsfit

So should a person NOT eat their exercise calories? Im alittle confused on that part.

It's different for everyone. it depends on your body and what works for you/

psuLemon

So should a person NOT eat their exercise calories? Im alittle confused on that part.

It's different for everyone. it depends on your body and what works for you/

Here's thing, it's truely not different for each person. The biggest discrepancy is how the calories in and out are measured. MFP isn't accurate for calories burnt during exercise but if you understand your BMR, the stage of your weight loss and the true amount of calories burnt, you can make informed decisions.

Below is a good link that explains some stuff more.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/384720-working-out-and-eating-back-calories

I will note the exception is people with medical conditions, for example my wife has PCOS so she has an intolerance to carbs but not calories.

FaithHopeBELIEVE

Just posted after 2 month pics on my profile. First 2 were in Sept. Next 4 today

Espressocycle

I'm cutting my calories back in an effort to start losing again, but if that doesn't work, I'm going to try increasing.

tameko2

The only macro I care about is my protein, and making sure I get enough. Everything else can fall where ever it will. I don't track my sugar, but I'm sure it's crazy high. If I was diabetic or at risk for it, I'd pay attention to it, but I'm not, so I don't.

Me too. well - I keep a vague eye on my carbs and fat because I like to see where they're at from day to day but the only one where I will think "hmm better eat more of X" is protein.

jonzo21

bumping for future reference

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

Macros...I eat a reasonably balanced diet...usually 300g of carbs and the rest protein/fat...I don't drink so most of my carbs cone from grains/fruits/veg/snacks...

I only care that I get over 100g protein which I ALWAYS do without even trying.

I'm 4'11 and ~100 pounds eating 2100-2500 lately...2 days at 2500 and the rest between 2100-2300.

rubysparkle

bump

TheCats_Meow

*bump*

Yori1

Bump for later.

NovemberJune

I estimate my TDEE to be about 2300 on exercise days and 2000 on rest days. I try to eat about 1500-1700 to have a 500-600 calorie deficit on average.... Based on my MFP number, my net calories are often under 1200. So I'll eat 1500, exercise and enter about 400 calories burned, and net 1100. That's pretty typical.

BeccaB1981

bump to finish later

4thehardman

I'm following the biggets loser guidelines (how the feed the competitors) and doing the workouts too. They suggest your weight times 7 should be your intake. Its pretty much what MFP gives. They also suggest 45% carb, 35% protien and 20% fat. It has to be clean carbs protiens and fats though. They don't allow the contestants to eat back their calories until they have a certain BMI. MIght explain how some things work well for fatter people not eating them back than fitter people who need to.
I'v elost 14lbs since starting but lost more body fat than the scales indicate. I can see the difference and my Dr is thrilled.

I would be allowed 1,050 calories. I was gaining at that amount. I'm losing on 1,500.

Then you are probabaly already at the weight where they get you to eat your calories back.

4thehardman

I'm following the biggets loser guidelines (how the feed the competitors) and doing the workouts too. They suggest your weight times 7 should be your intake. Its pretty much what MFP gives. They also suggest 45% carb, 35% protien and 20% fat. It has to be clean carbs protiens and fats though. They don't allow the contestants to eat back their calories until they have a certain BMI. MIght explain how some things work well for fatter people not eating them back than fitter people who need to.
I'v elost 14lbs since starting but lost more body fat than the scales indicate. I can see the difference and my Dr is thrilled.

My weight (127) x 7 = 889. 889 calories per day? did I read that incorrectly? I eat bt 1800-2400 cals a day depending on exercise. 889 would get me right back where I was in the past -- starving and gaining.

We must remember that this is for the "Biggest Loser". The contestants start out around 300lbs. That would give them 2100 calories. But I don't think this ratio is at all useful to people that are no in the extremely obese category.

Thank you. I did try to explain that then then eat back their exercise calories once they get to a certain BMI I get over 1500 for example right now but burn around 800 per day. so by the time I got to the lower weights you guys are talking about I would be able to eat between 1600-1800 a day.

4thehardman

I'm following the biggets loser guidelines (how the feed the competitors) and doing the workouts too. They suggest your weight times 7 should be your intake. Its pretty much what MFP gives. They also suggest 45% carb, 35% protien and 20% fat. It has to be clean carbs protiens and fats though. They don't allow the contestants to eat back their calories until they have a certain BMI. MIght explain how some things work well for fatter people not eating them back than fitter people who need to.
I'v elost 14lbs since starting but lost more body fat than the scales indicate. I can see the difference and my Dr is thrilled.

My weight (127) x 7 = 889. 889 calories per day? did I read that incorrectly? I eat bt 1800-2400 cals a day depending on exercise. 889 would get me right back where I was in the past -- starving and gaining.

We must remember that this is for the "Biggest Loser". The contestants start out around 300lbs. That would give them 2100 calories. But I don't think this ratio is at all useful to people that are no in the extremely obese category.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

7 times your weight is a TERRIBLE metric if you aren't obese. And its even more terrible if you have a lot of muscle or something. I would only get to eat 1150 calories doing that - I need at least 1500 just to FUNCTION as a body with blood and organs.

I did explain that its only until they get to a certain BMI therefore a certain weight. I currently weigh just over 240lbs which is why it is working for me. Not everyone on this site weighs 150lbs you know.

rml_16

Double post.

rml_16

I'm following the biggets loser guidelines (how the feed the competitors) and doing the workouts too. They suggest your weight times 7 should be your intake. Its pretty much what MFP gives. They also suggest 45% carb, 35% protien and 20% fat. It has to be clean carbs protiens and fats though. They don't allow the contestants to eat back their calories until they have a certain BMI. MIght explain how some things work well for fatter people not eating them back than fitter people who need to.
I'v elost 14lbs since starting but lost more body fat than the scales indicate. I can see the difference and my Dr is thrilled.

I would be allowed 1,050 calories. I was gaining at that amount. I'm losing on 1,500.

Then you are probabaly already at the weight where they get you to eat your calories back.

That 1,500 is BEFORE eating back exercise calories.

And re-read what you wrote. Nowhere did you say the calculation wasn't used for people with lower BMIs. Biggest Loser is a game show. It isn't real life. I would never try to incorporate the starvation diet they use on that show into my weight loss routine.

2youngatheart

:flowerforyou: bump

MissDiscipline

So should a person NOT eat their exercise calories? Im alittle confused on that part.

Yes. and No. Depends on who you as. I think it works differently for everyone - just as anything does.
I never eat back 100% of mine - sometimes I will eat back 100% - sometimes -0% Depends on how hungry I am

Personally I am trying zigzagging my calories right now - after 8 months of a similar caloric intake - its time to mix it up : )

Spot on. It depends on the person. if I eat more, I gain weight. My best friend on the other hand, would have her metabolism drop as soon as she did it for more than 2 days! It really depends on the person..

Red5446

I'm interested to hear responses. I'm 5'4" and eating 1200 calories now, but I was thinking of upping it to 1300.

I'm the same height, and I have been eating around 1350-1450 cal per day, but I exercise very heavily, and a friend on this site suggested that I should try eating more, because my metabolism is slowing down to a crawl due to the high activity and low consumption. Obviously how much you work out is a factor. If your loss is very slow, you may want to experiment! I ate a huge meal last night (burned 800+ calories) and this morning I weighed in a two pound loss! Obviously this is anecdotal evidence, but I think that, in my case, eating too little might have been the problem.

stephabef

I'm interested to hear responses. I'm 5'4" and eating 1200 calories now, but I was thinking of upping it to 1300.

I'm the same height, and I have been eating around 1350-1450 cal per day, but I exercise very heavily, and a friend on this site suggested that I should try eating more, because my metabolism is slowing down to a crawl due to the high activity and low consumption. Obviously how much you work out is a factor. If your loss is very slow, you may want to experiment! I ate a huge meal last night (burned 800+ calories) and this morning I weighed in a two pound loss! Obviously this is anecdotal evidence, but I think that, in my case, eating too little might have been the problem.

Interesting. I work out every day for 30-40 minutes. I estimate my calorie burn - saving up for a HRM! But I'm guessing I burn 200-400 cals in a workout. I'm also only 20 pounds from goal, so that was another factor in my decision to up it.

tameko2

I'm following the biggets loser guidelines (how the feed the competitors) and doing the workouts too. They suggest your weight times 7 should be your intake. Its pretty much what MFP gives. They also suggest 45% carb, 35% protien and 20% fat. It has to be clean carbs protiens and fats though. They don't allow the contestants to eat back their calories until they have a certain BMI. MIght explain how some things work well for fatter people not eating them back than fitter people who need to.
I'v elost 14lbs since starting but lost more body fat than the scales indicate. I can see the difference and my Dr is thrilled.

My weight (127) x 7 = 889. 889 calories per day? did I read that incorrectly? I eat bt 1800-2400 cals a day depending on exercise. 889 would get me right back where I was in the past -- starving and gaining.

We must remember that this is for the "Biggest Loser". The contestants start out around 300lbs. That would give them 2100 calories. But I don't think this ratio is at all useful to people that are no in the extremely obese category.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

7 times your weight is a TERRIBLE metric if you aren't obese. And its even more terrible if you have a lot of muscle or something. I would only get to eat 1150 calories doing that - I need at least 1500 just to FUNCTION as a body with blood and organs.

I did explain that its only until they get to a certain BMI therefore a certain weight. I currently weigh just over 240lbs which is why it is working for me. Not everyone on this site weighs 150lbs you know.

Actually you said that they don't get to eat their exercise calories until a certain BMI, but my point was that 7 x metric doesn't work at all if you aren't obese. And yes, you ARE obese so its probably ok for you for right now -- I assume you're eating around 1800? That sounds like a fine amount. but when I started here I weighed 205 - that would have put me at 1435 which is really low. Might have been ok for a couple weeks or a month when I had a TON of extra weight to burn but now that I'm 171 even eating 1435 is too low, LET ALONE 7x my bodyweight. 1170 + exercise calories would still be WAY too low. and I'm not a healthy "BMI" yet. So just be prepared to not continue using that metric for very long IF you want ot be healthy.

weimawhat

bump

caveats

I missed this thread the first time around ... saw it when it got started, forgot to reply to it, then forgot it completely ... but anyway, I guess better late than never?

I'm 5'3", 127-130 lbs. depending on TOM, and I'm eating 1800+ calories/day, usually more like 2k+. My BF% when I started was hovering around 28%, which is okay, but not great. I'm what you guys would call "skinny fat".

1800 calories is my maintenance level, and 2k+ is what I need to supplement my weight training program. I'm making a more deliberate effort to hit the gym more often rather than going "when I felt like it". I had been slacking off a bit the past couple of weeks on getting to the gym to lift, but I kicked my butt back into gear this week. I did deadlifts for the first time tonight and was really happy/surprised I could use the 50-lb. bar already. Okay, compared to some of the other 2k girls, that's wimpy, but I'll take it.

This program -- higher calories, deliberate workouts that you don't kill yourself over -- works for me, but it also works for a lot of people with a lot of different body types. I see photos from the 2k girls, and we're all different shapes, sizes, heights, lifestyles. We range from hardcore runners like love4fitnesslove4food to serious lifting rats like Rachel2603 to yoga gurus like agthorn. It works more efficiently and is healthier, IMHO, than serious caloric deficit -- even for people who are obese/overweight. Yeah, you may be physically more limited at a higher body weight/BMI, but you can still start *somewhere* -- even if it's doing soup can curls in your kitchen.

I did have a belly shot as my main photo, but I moved it into the rest of the pic gallery because it was too similar to psych's photo. I'll have to find some pants/shorts/whatever that aren't black so I can post a new one. But that photo was taken like 2 weeks ago and it already shows progress in my torso. I've lost an inch off my waist (from 31" to 30"), and I'm working on getting a few more. Unfortunately, I don't have a "started MFP" photo because I took that in my underwear, and I guess that's against MFP's rules? It's a truly embarrassing photo though -- a muffin top in plain cotton underwear is pretty much the low point for me.

Anyway. Just my 2 cents. I have a lot of 'em.

psuLemon

I'm interested to hear responses. I'm 5'4" and eating 1200 calories now, but I was thinking of upping it to 1300.

I'm the same height, and I have been eating around 1350-1450 cal per day, but I exercise very heavily, and a friend on this site suggested that I should try eating more, because my metabolism is slowing down to a crawl due to the high activity and low consumption. Obviously how much you work out is a factor. If your loss is very slow, you may want to experiment! I ate a huge meal last night (burned 800+ calories) and this morning I weighed in a two pound loss! Obviously this is anecdotal evidence, but I think that, in my case, eating too little might have been the problem.

The reason why your metabolism slows is due to the muscle loss. Your body catalyzes muscle after the energy from the fat storss is used. For long term improvements this will kill your results and lead to plateaus. This has been the case with every plateau i have helped someone get out of which is close to 40+ members on this board.

There is a reason why eating more will benefit you more in the long run as it prevents muscle loss. Now i will note that there are several methods to approach this. First if you strctly use mfp you have to understand your inputs. What i mean is, just because you want to lose 2 lbs a week doesnt mean its feasible for your body. Example being a person who has 20 lbs to lose. Also with using mfp i would try to eat back 50-75% of the exercise calories as they tend to run high.

The second method incorporates exercise calories into your lifestyle (approach i take). I have a sedentary job bjt workout 5-6 days a week so i label myself moderately active so i can concerntrate on one caloric goal.

Beeps2011

I bumped up my calories this week. And, I've traded one (maybe 2) cardio work-outs for strength-training. This is what MY next 12 weeks looks like. And, if I change my SHAPE, but not the number on the SCALE, I am okay with that.

(I am at a perfectly normal weight for my 5'9" height.)

foodeeee

Although I can't lose if I eat much over 1,200, I can maintain with over 2000 cals! It's all about QUALITY!!

morales08

Hmm??? I am doing all I can to stay @ or under the recommended 1200 cals per day mark. I exercise 3-4 times per week. Sometimes I am waaaaay hungrier than 1200 cals. Wondering if I should I eat more?

psuLemon

Hmm??? I am doing all I can to stay @ or under the recommended 1200 cals per day mark. I exercise 3-4 times per week. Sometimes I am waaaaay hungrier than 1200 cals. Wondering if I should I eat more?

There is a good chance you have to eat a lot more than 1200. If you go to tools and use the BMR calculator, if you can post your results and your workout schedule we can do some figuring for you.